Electric-lamp socket



v 1,6 5,68 July 12 1927. P. E' MORRISON 3 6 ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET FiledSept. 1'?. 1925 I 'llIllll/IIIA 'lllllllllly/(l/l Patented July 12,19,27.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER E. MORRISON, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 HENRY COLE &COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET.

Application led September 17, 1925. Serial No. 57,000.

This invention relates to an electric lamp socket and particularly tosockets such as are used in connection with autloi'nobile lights.

It. is ali-object of the invention to produce a simple, compact, andinexpensive socket wherein the removal of the plug terminal, or therotation thereof to control the lamp, is obviated.

Heretofore in sockets of this Vclass the light, or lamp control, wasaccomplished by means ot' a switch located exteriorlyot the socket, orby the removal of the terminal plug therefrom, or by rotation ot' theterminal plug.

The last mentioned means was more coinmonly used, and while in somerespects itv gave satisfaction, in other respects it was a source ofconsiderable trouble, `as it has been found that the frequent rotationof the plug tounake or break the circuit always had a tendency to andvery often did cause a breakage of one or both ot' the wires securedthereto, which was not often discovered without annoying investigationand delay because of lack of knowledge of the constantly menacingcondition existing:

The present invention eliminates this bad feature by the introduction ota simple switch into the socket, and so arranging it with respectthereto that it occupies a position intermediate the lamp and theterminal plug, whereby the said plug may be permanently secured to thesocket, suitable spring pressed electrical contacts beingl employed toensure perfect: contact and to compensate for wear. c

Other ob 'ects of the invention and certain features of constructionandai-rangement thereof will be fully understood from a description ofthe drawing and the claim hereinafter given.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 represents the improved lamp socket in longitudinal section,certain parts being left in elevation for clearness.

Figure 2 is a section on thel line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section onthe line 3 3 Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are details similar to Figures 2 and 8 but showingFigure 5 as havingbeen turned to break the circuit.

Like `characters represent like parts throughout the several figures ofthe draw- 111g.

Referring to the drawing:

The drawing herewith illustrates a form of lamp socket which might beused for the dome light of an automobile, but it will be understood thatit is not the intention to limit the invention to the preciseconstruction and arrangement shown as it is possible `to make changestherein without departing from its spirit and scope.

The casing lO, at. the left end thereol', is provided with suitablemeans such as bayonet joints 1l, one ol which is shown in dotted lines,see Figure 1 to receive pins l2 ot' a lamp 13 in the usual and wellknown manner.

At approximately midway of the saidcasing 1t) is a. .plug 1st ofinsulating material fast with said casing, and having a tubular member15 fast therein and angularly arranged with respect to the axis of saidcasing for a purpose to be described.

The said tubular member is arranged to house the headed portions ofplungers t6 and 17 between which is located a spring 18 normally tendingto separate them.

A terminal plug 19 of insulating material, secured on the right hand endof said casing 10 and preferably protruding therefrom, is arranged toreceive the wires 2U and il which enter holes in metallic cylindricalmembers 22 and 23, one of which 22 has a spring 'pressed plunger 24mounted therein.

lnterposed between the plugs 14.` and 1t) is a rotatable plug or switchmember 25 oomprising a metal band 26 surrounding insulating material 27in which issecured a. metal contact or stud 28 which is at timespositioned to com ilete the connection between the plungers 1 and 24.

The said plug has a hand piece 29 extending therefrom and through a slot30 in the casing 10, whereby it may be rotated to position the stud 28between the plungers 17 and 14 to complete the circuit, or remove ittherefrom to break the circuit for lamp or light control.

Figure l of the drawing shows the casing 10 as forming a part of thecircuit, the current for instance passing from the `wire 20 through thecylindrical member 22 to the plunger 24, through the stud 28 to the (itlplunger 17,' through lspring 18 to plunger 16 to lamp filament, no tshown, and

t'rom said filament to casing 10, thence through spring 3l, located inplug 22, and in close contact with member 23, and out through wire 2l.

lt will be understood, however, that if necessary the use ot the casingl() for forming a part of the circuit may be dispensed with by supplyinganother set ot plungers similar to 16, 17 and 24, and a conductor stud28. an arrangen'ient which might be accomplished by an ordinarymechanic.

The angular arrangement of the plungers 1G and 17 as shown in thedrawing makes it possible to utilize a simple and inexpensive movableswitch member, having an electrical Contact or connector eccentricallypositioned, whereby a movement of the hand piece 29 a distance less thana quarter turn will sutlice to make or break the circuit.

Having described the invention I claim: A lamp socket ot the classdescribed comprising a stationary casing; a terminal 'l plugnon-rotatably secured in the one end of said casing; a non-rotatableplug secured in the other end of said casing; said plug having twoaligned spring pressed electrical memes with an electrical contactmember which 1s eccentrically arranged with respect to said axis; saidterminal plug having feed wires secured therein one of which is arrangedto connect with a spring pressed electrical contact member which iseccentrically arranged with respect to said axis; and arranged tocomplete the electrical contact between itself and the eccentricallymounted contactmember in said plug when said rotatable plug is rotatedto position its contact member therebetween; the other of said feedWires being in electrical connection with said casing and meansincluding a lever extending radially from said rotatable plug wherebysaid plug may be rotated to cause its contact member to be moved intoand out of electrical contact with the contact member of said terminalplug and the eccentrically arranged contact member of the luv.

PETER E. M Rirson.

